Alternate Names

Uses

Proposed Uses:

Other Proposed Uses

There are many plants in the lavender family, but the type most commonly used medicinally is English lavender.

Traditionally, the
essential oil
of lavender was applied externally to treat joint pain, muscle aches, and a variety of skin conditions, including insect stings, acne, eczema, and burns. Lavender essential oil was also inhaled to relieve headaches, anxiety, and stress. Tincture of lavender was taken by mouth for joint pain, depression, migraines, indigestion, and anxiety.

Lavender was additionally used as a hair rinse and as a fragrance in “dream pillows” and potpourris.

What Is Lavender Oil Used for Today?

Lavender continues to be recommended for all its traditional uses. Only a few of these uses, however, have any supporting scientific evidence whatsoever, and for none of these is the evidence strong.

A few studies suggest that lavender oil, when taken by inhalation (
aromatherapy
) might reduce agitation in people with severe
dementia
. For example, in one very well-designed but very small study, a hospital ward was suffused with either lavender oil or water for two hours.
1
An investigator who was unaware of the study’s design and who wore a device to block inhalation of odors entered the ward and evaluated the behavior of the 15 residents, all of whom had dementia. The results indicated that use of lavender oil aromatherapy modestly decreased agitated behavior. A somewhat less rigorous study reported similar benefits.
2
Rigor is essential in such studies, as it has been shown that merely creating expectations about the effects of aromas may be sufficient to cause them to occur.
9

A preliminary controlled trial found some evidence that lavender, administered through the oxygen face mask, reduced need for pain medications following gastric banding surgery.
10

A small study performed in Iran reported that oral use of lavender tincture augmented the effectiveness of a pharmaceutical treatment for
depression
.
3
However, this study suffered from numerous problems, both in design and reporting, as well as in the scientific reputation of the investigators involved.

In a controlled trial with more than 600 participants, lavender oil in bath water failed to improve perineal pain after
childbirth
.
4

Head lice is a common condition in children. It is often treated with insecticides, like pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide, that are applied to the scalp. Lavender oil has been studied as a possible alternative.
11
In one trial, 123 children (aged 4-12 years) were randomized to one of three groups:
tea tree oil
plus lavender oil, a head lice product that works by suffocating the lice, or insecticides (pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide).
The day after being treated, almost all of the children in the tea tree plus lavender oil group, as well as the suffocation product group, were lice-free, compared to only 25% of those in the insecticides group (a significant difference).

Lavender is also used in combination with other essential oils. For information on these uses, see the
Aromatherapy
article.

Dosage

When used internally, lavender tincture is taken at a dose of 2-4 ml three times a day.
Lavender essential oil is only used externally or by inhalation; it should not be used internally.

Safety

No form of lavender has undergone comprehensive safety testing.

Internal use of lavender essential oil is unsafe and should be avoided. Topical use is considered much safer. Allergic reactions are relatively common, as with all essential oils. In addition, one case report suggests that a combination of lavender oil and
tea tree oil
applied topically caused gynecomastia (breast enlargement) in 3 young boys.
7

A controlled study found that inhalation of lavender essential oil might impair some aspects of mental function.
8
(Presumably, this was due to the intended sedative effects of the treatment.)

Oral use of tincture of lavender has not been associated with any severe adverse effects, but comprehensive safety testing has not been performed.

The maximum safe doses of any form of lavender remains unknown for pregnant or nursing women, young children, or people with severe liver or kidney.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Barker SC, Altman PM.
A randomised, assessor blind, parallel group comparative efficacy trial of three products for the treatment of head lice in children—melaleuca oil and lavender oil, pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide, and a "suffocation" product.
BMC Dermatol.
2010;10:6.

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